John Mateer shares excitement for challenge of facing SEC defenses
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John Mateer knows that big-time stats at non-SEC programs don’t always translate to big-time stats within the SEC.
Mateer spent 3 seasons at Washington State, but he’s a Texas native, so it’s not like transferring to Oklahoma after last season is going to be a complete culture shock. He decided to head to the Pacific Northwest to start his collegiate career, and in 2024 it all came together for Mateer.
After redshirting in 2022 and only throwing 17 passes as a redshirt freshman in 2023, Mateer had a meteoric rise last fall. He threw for 3,139 yards with 29 touchdown passes and just 7 interceptions. Mateer was equally merciless on the ground, rumbling for 826 yards and another 15 touchdowns.
Mateer didn’t just put up gaudy stats though. He won games, too, leading the Cougars to an 8-5 record. It was a breakthrough for Mateer, but then things changed in early December when Oklahoma hired Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to the same position. Suddenly, the OC that Mateer had so much success with was heading to Norman, and a few weeks later Mateer announced that he was following Arbuckle and transferring to OU.
According to head coach Brent Venables, Mateer turned down more money from other suitors to come to Oklahoma and rejoin Arbuckle. Fast-forward to Wednesday, when Mateer was part of the Oklahoma contingent at SEC Media Days in Atlanta. He spoke with reporters about the question of whether he can also succeed in the SEC, and he did an interview with SiriusXM and spoke about the same question on everyone’s mind.
“I’d say we’re working as hard as we can to do everything we can. There’s no ceiling to what we plan on doing. I’m excited for the challenge. It’s a challenge, and everyone knows that. How else are you going to get better? Come on, bring it. It’s going to be fun. I’m real excited. We all are,” said Mateer.
Mateer probably had that answer on speed dial in his mind going into Wednesday, because he had to know it would be coming in waves.
In a few short weeks, that challenge will begin in Norman.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
